Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-07
CATARRH.

THE TERM CATARRH is APPLIED TO A
i peculiar disorder of the nostrils and ad-
jacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent, and is productive of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic c
feature Is a morbid discharge from the head
varying in Its nature at different times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
OF clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco.purulent, greenish-yellow
matter is secreted, which accumulates in
the nostrils or drops into the throat, neces-
stating its frequent removal by blowing the
nose or expectOration, and often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their head was In a state Of rotten
ness, SO great Is the amount of matter dis.
charged and so fetid is its odor The pa
tient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the morbid
matter from the head, and as a recumbent
position naturally favOrs the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are Obliged to lie = ith
the head very much elevated in order to
sleep with some degree OF comfort.
In others a tough, viscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the throat and
head, adhering to the parts with gluish tenac-
1ty. Its lodgment embarrasses respiration
and creates sensation of irritation and un-
easiness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to constant and almost Irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mouth This practice, popularly known
as .'hawking," is Characteristic of eatarrh.
ana proves as embarrassing to the one af-
fected as 1t is disagreeable to those around
him.
Again, the offensive matter bardens and
deposits itself on the menb brane In the shape
OF dry, hard concretiSns, which are dis.
charged by way OF ths n9strils or throat in
some cases these incrustations accumulate
to such an extent as to form a regular plug
IN the nose, which obstructs breathing and
produce serious discomfort; So firmly do
these incrusRtions adhere to the point Of
attachment that their removal usually re-
qufres the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have to be torn from the mem.
srane. Occasionally solid cast of notable
traces OF blood, but in some cases the cast
presents tubular appearance, being of exact
shape OF the nasal cavity. This condition Is
indicative Of liberation, which, in time,
may destroy the bony structure of the nose
and produce subsequent fiattening Of that
organ.
Gases are occasionally met with in which
a thick, viscid,, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane of the nasal cavities and then
putrefes, giving rise to a stencil which Ia
really overpowering, and sufficiently fetid
to poison the atmosphere of a whole room;
aud there are others in which all the secre-
tions of the membrane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness heat
and feverishness in the head and nOse-a
condition popularly known as "Dry
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities of the bones of the forehead and
face, giving rise to dist essing sensation Of
heavy weight or compression over the fore
tween the eyes, and to feeling OF fulness,
heat, irritation, sor. ness or pal in the nos.
trils near the root of the nose, as well as in
the upper part of the throat, above and be-
pain Obstinately fixed in some particular
part, as in the temple, on the top of the
head, at the back of the neck, or behind the
orbits, and, occasionally pain manifests
itself in the face of SO severe a character
that 1t is frequently mistaken for neuralgia,
The breath Is always tainted, and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes SO revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object of disgust to himself as well as to
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
contested, causing the nose to be stopped up.
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the
other, and often on both, giving rise to a
disagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head,
and occasioning violent and prolonged
parOxysms of sneezing
The voice is weak, indistinct and husky,
or OF a nasal character, displaying a sort of
smiling quality. Oftentimes there is con-
t1nuous hoarseness and discordance. There
Is also sense of irritation in the part,
and frequent attempts to clear the throat of
phlegm, producing the sound 'hem," more
or less foreibly. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling Of
inilness, dd & or &cheky sensation in the throat,
constant dryness, for the temporary relief Of
which they have to swallow frequently
Otherf; again, speak of a constant bad or
nauseOus taste in the mouth OF throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or less
and becomes weak and irritable: the appe-
tite is capricious and nearly always bad in
the morning. The patient is languid, unable
the usual facility, is nervous, depressed in
spirits, at times fearful, timid, agitated and
inclined to drOwsiness and sleep, the mem
ory weakened and permanent impairment
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to unfavorable infu-
ences, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, 30
OF the nose or throat becomes productive Of
a cold, and gives rise to serious disturbances
OF the respiratory organs Thus the patient
Is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggravating the disease by Civ
ing 1t a new impulse and involving larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In
this manner the difiiculty spreads from or
trsches ssa se V and bronchIsl T tubes, % until, en-
cr0aching further and further. It reaches
the finer ramifications of the bronchi. when
but a slight impulse is required to send 1t to
an ses osssr oTssna in IL body p especisf f
those contain 'ng mucous membrane, such
US the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment Of proper inhalatlons
in the form of medicated vapor (not steam
or spray we are able to produce immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages, for air
will find its way into the most remote and
intricate cavities. where It is utterly imp0s.
sible to make fluid applications. By these
means every case can be cured.
Persons desiring treatment by this system
Of practice can use the remedy at home as
well as at our office, and which will cause
no Inconvenience or hindrance to business
whatever.
have seen SO many of these cases cured
that do not consider any case hopeless un-
less the disease has advanced to the chest
and that both lungs are seriously involved.
Even then the inhalations aid us in dis.
solving the mucus and in contracting ana
healing the cavities, which nDthine else can
DO with the same success. The very best
references from those already cured.